Subjunctive
Grammar and Vocabulary Ⅱ
December 20, 2011
Express English
 Happiness
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/l
earningenglish/general/expresseng
lish/2011/12/111212_ee_44_happine
ss_page.shtml
 “When you're down, what makes
you happy?”



Shopping is a popular way to cheer
yourself up. That's why they call it
retail therapy!
A nice view makes some people feel
better. Others like having a laugh with
friends. And at the end of a bad day,
some men said seeing their wife
made them happy. Very romantic! But
why did the women not say this about
their husbands…?
Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a set of verb
forms used mainly in rather formal
English to talk about possibilities
rather than facts. The present
subjunctive uses the base from of
the verb (e.g. We suggest that she
leave immediately) and the past
subjunctive uses were (e.g. If I were
you, I’d go home now.)
Exercise 1
(4) If I (am/was/were) you, I would never
do such a thing.
⇒ were
(5) They suggested that we (go/went/will
go) by bus.
⇒ go
(6) If I had enough money, I
(can/could/could have) buy this book.
⇒ could
(7) (With/Without/As for) your help, I
could not finish this report.
⇒ Without
(8) I wish I (can/could/could have) be
more intelligent.
⇒ could
Exercise 2
(7) ピアノが弾けたらいいのになあ。
I [ the piano play could I wish ].
I wish I could play the piano.
(8) もし戦争がなければ、世界は平和なの
に…。
If [ wars not were there the world
peaceful would be]
If there were not wars, the world
would be peaceful.
If He Didn’t Like His Job, He
Wouldn’t Work So Hard
A: I wonder why Fred works so hard.
B: I don’t know. He must like his job.
A: You’re probably right. If he didn’t
like his job, he wouldn’t work so
hard.
A: I wonder why my older brother and
his girlfriend hold hands all the time.
B: I don’t know. They must be in love.
A: You’re probably right. If they
weren’t in love, they wouldn’t hold
hands all the time.
If I Were You
A: Do you think the boss would be
angry if I went home early?
B: Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, I think
she’d be very angry.
A: Do you really think so?
B: Yes. I’m positive. I wouldn’t go
home early if I were you.
A: I suppose you’re right.
Q and A (with subjunctive)
What would you do if got 100,000
yen for otoshidama?
 What would you do if you won
100,000,000 yen in a lottery?
 What would you do if you were the
prime minister of Japan?
 What would you do if you saw a
woman being molested on the
train?

BBC Learning English

Grammar Challenge
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/lear
ningenglish/radio/specials/1159_gram
challenge38/
 Second conditional
In this program we look at the second
conditional -- a way of talking about
impossible or unlikely events or
situations.

Exercise 2: Word Order
1. If he asked you to marry him, would you say
yes?
2. How would we keep in touch if we didn't
have computers?
3. Would you leave your job if the pay was
lower than it is?
4. If she wasn't beautiful, he wouldn't be going
out with her.
5. If people were more tolerant, there would be
fewer wars.
6. If you couldn't speak English, we wouldn't
be able to communicate.
See you next week!